Coastal Defenses in NC, Cape Fear River- Fort Johnston (Southport, NC)

Fort Johnston was one of the forts that guarded Cape Fear River access to Wilmington, NC. The site was originally a fort completed in 1764 and named after the then Governor Gabriel Johnston. It is shown in the map below named as Fort Pember, renamed by the Confederates, in Smithville. At the time of the Civil War the town of Southport was called Smithville. It changed its name to Southport in 1887 in anticipation of the city becoming a major port city, which never occurred.

On January 9, 1861, an armed militia descended on Fort Johnston and demanded that its lone occupant Ordinance Sergeant James Reilly hand over the keys. Two days later the Governor John Ellis ordered that the fort be returned to the Federal government. The fort was reoccupied on April 16th. Two days after the fall of Fort Sumter, once again it was surrendered by Sergeant Reilly. Reilly resigned from the Army and became an artillery officer for the Confederacy, where he subsequently oversaw the surrender of Fort Fisher, this time surrendering to the Union on January 15, 1865.

On February 29, 1864, the daring U.S. Navy Lieutenant William B. Cushing led a small raiding party ashore in an attempt to capture Confederate General Louis Hebert, the commanding officer of Fort Johnston. Hebert was away in Wilmington at the time, so Cushing had to settle for capturing Captain Patrick Kelly. Cushing and two officers, Ensign J.E. Jones and Master’s Mate W.L. Howarth, were directed to a building where the officers slept by two slaves. Adjutant General W.D. Hardman escaped out a window, but Captain Kelly was captured. The alarm was sounded on the base as the three Union seamen, along with the two slaves and Captain Kelly headed toward the waterfront and back to their ship and safety. Cushing sent Ensign Jones back to Smithville under a flag of truce to get Kelly’s personal effects. While there Jones handed the base commander a letter from Lieutenant Cushing to General Hebert that stated- My Dear General: I deeply regret that you were not at home when I called. Very respectfully, W.B. Cushing. Subsequently, Admiral Samuel Lee, head of the squadron, awarded Cushing an independent command to hunt blockade runners. Cushing went on to become nationally famous later that year for his daring raid up the Roanoke River that destroyed the Confederate ironclad the CSS Albemarle.

Fort Johnston markers

Fort Johnston Garrison House

St. Philips Chapel- 205 East Moore Street- used as a Union Hospital

Hubbard House- 216 North Atlantic- one of the Fort Johnston wings was moved to this location.

Fort Johnston Hospital- 413 East Bay Street. There was a 12-bed sick ward upstairs. The first floor had a doctor’s and steward’s office. The building was moved to this location.